Web Fundamentals
HTTP
The protocol browsers and servers use to request and send data over the web.
Reviewed by the RadarTrek editorial team · June 2026
HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) defines the rules for how a browser (the client) asks a server for something — a web page, an image, JSON data — and how the server responds. Every request has a method (GET, POST, etc.) and every response has a status code (200, 404, 500) telling you what happened.
Why it matters
- —Every web page load, API call, and form submission happens over HTTP.
- —HTTPS adds encryption on top of HTTP — essential for any site handling real data.
- —Understanding status codes (200, 404, 500) is the first step in debugging anything on the web.
Where to learn this
🎓
HTTP and APIs
How the Web Works course
This is the exact lesson that covers this term in depth — with examples, diagrams, and a hands-on exercise.